Volunteers Come Together For Village Water

TONTO VILLAGE

The weather has been just about perfect this week, the sun has been shining and the temperatures have been in the upper ‘60s. The snow is melting at a fast pace and creating very muddy conditions just about everywhere. Would you believe that I have new garlic shoots coming up? Can spring be far behind?

Janet Snyder photo

Tonto Village has its share of "good guys." On this past Sunday
morning, Jake Garrett, John Digman, Jeff Shaw, Buck Shill and Bill
Snyder worked together to spread landscape rock at well #2, so AERO
Drilling could get into the well site to install a new water pump.

The Gila County maintenance crew that takes care of Tonto Village needs special recognition. They have done a superb job this winter season with the plowing and cindering of our roads. Thank you, guys, whoever you are.

Tonto Village residents pulling together

This past weekend, water well #2 needed a new pump, and Chris from Aero Drilling could not get into the well site because of deep ruts and mud.

Jake Garrett called John Digman who drives a truck for Haught Excavation. He hauled in a truckload of landscape rock so that the drilling truck could install the pump. Jeff Shaw, Buck Shill and Bill Snyder also helped spread the rock at the well site.

Time was of the essence since Aero Drilling was coming back to install the new pump the next day. The well needed to go online immediately since the Village was operating on just one well.

Since the Water Company had limited funds, the residents decided to volunteer their time and money to ensure that everyone in the village had a supply of water. It is wonderful that we have such a caring community.

Tonto Village Fire District

The next monthly meeting of the fire board will be on Feb. 14 at the fire station beginning at 6 p.m. with Rick Washburn chairing the meeting, along with Gayle Fitch and Gloria Alliger. The meetings are always open to the public and you are urged to attend. The attendance has been filling the small meeting room to overflowing each month, which is a very good sign that the community is interested in the happenings of the fire district.

There was one medical call this past Monday morning with Trina Houdek, Chad Stluka, Nick Fitch and Chief Alliger responding. A woman in Tonto Village II was transported to Payson Regional Medical Center after suffering from a bad fall.

Tonto Village Chapel

This next Sunday, Feb. 11, there will be a special speaker at the church service. Keith Tally from Payson will give a presentation on the substantiation of Creation through science. The church service starts at 9 a.m. Make sure that you attend this very interesting look at God's Creation.

The men's breakfast will be on Monday, Feb. 12, beginning at 7:30 a.m. Pastor Wilcox will be at the stove making the eggs and Phon Sutton will be in charge of the hash browns. This will be a full breakfast with a bit of manly discussions. This is the first breakfast for the men. Let's make it a regular event with a good showing of the guys in the Village.

Domino Divas

The gals are going to make Feb. 14 a special dominoes day by designating all food as "heart healthy." Come and join in the fun of playing dominoes and trying out different dishes made by all the players. Be at the Tonto Village Chapel by 1 p.m.

New neighbors

Duane and Karen Fleagle are the proud new owners of lot #228 in Tonto Village III. They come from Gilbert and, for the time being, will be seasonal visitors. Duane owns Fleagle Plumbing in Gilbert, so he is kept very busy there, but the family, including Richard and Marydel Fleagle, will spend as much time as possible in the Village. Welcome to the Fleagle family.

Bear Flat

Word was received that Robert St. Johns has passed away. Robert was a seasonal resident of the first meadow. A memorial service is planned for March 4 in the Valley. No further details were available. Condolences to Robert's family -- his daughter, Robin, and her husband, Mark Smith, and Robert's son, Robert St. John Jr., and his family. Robert will be missed by his neighbors in Bear Flat.

Birthdays

Belated birthday wishes to Bill "Willie" Houdek. Bill celebrated his big day on Feb. 6 with family and friends, who gathered together for birthday cake at the Houdek home.

Other birthdays include Kara Shaw on Feb. 11, Virginia Rankhorn on Feb. 13, Clint Daniels on Feb. 14, Rick Meeker on Feb. 16 and Audrey Shaw on Feb. 16. Happy birthday to all of you.

Pool results

There was no Sunday tournament this past week. Competition will resume next Sunday at 3 p.m.

On Tuesday evening, the gals got together for the nine-ball tournament and Ethel Cain shot for the winner's trophy. Margaret Stasney and Kara Shaw shot for second and third places.